Electrode for a user wearable apparatus

Abstract

An electrode for a user wearable apparatus; the electrode comprising: a conductive part comprising conductive material, wherein the conductive part is configured to provide electrical connection to electronic components of the user wearable device, and an opening configured to provide an optical connection to electronic components of the user wearable apparatus through the electrode.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrode system for a user wearable apparatus, the electrode system comprising:
 at least two electrodes, wherein the at least two electrodes comprise a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein each of the first and the second electrodes are electrically isolated from one another on a same side of the user wearable apparatus and includes a conductive part comprising conductive material, wherein the conductive part is configured to provide electrical connection to electronic components of the user wearable device and is configured to provide electrical connection from a surface of the conductive part to a surface of skin of a body part of a user of the user wearable apparatus; 
 an opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode configured to provide an optical connection to the surface of the skin of the body part of the user; 
 at least two optically separated light-passing elements in the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, wherein the at least two light-passing elements comprise a first light-passing element and a second light-passing element; 
 wherein the first light-passing element is connected to a first light source of a first optical sensor and is configured to pass light from the light source, through the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, to the surface of the skin of the body part of the user, and to reflect the light as reflected light off the surface of the skin; 
 wherein the second light-passing element is connected to a first light detector of the first optical sensor and is configured to pass the reflected light from the surface of the skin of the body part of the user, through the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, to the light detector; 
 a third light-passing element optically separated from the first and second light-passing elements in the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, the third light-passing element including a reflecting surface in the end thereof; 
 wherein the third light-passing element is connected to a second light source of a second optical sensor and is configured to pass light from the second light source, through the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, to the reflecting surface in the end thereof, and to reflect the light as reflected light off the reflecting surface; and 
 wherein the third light-passing element is connected to a second light detector of the second optical sensor and is configured to pass the reflected light from the reflecting surface in the end thereof, through the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, to the second light detector. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrode system according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive part of each of the first and second electrodes is configured to provide galvanic connection between a physiological condition sensor of the user wearable apparatus and a body of a user wearing the user wearable apparatus. 
     
     
       3. The electrode system according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive part of each of the first and second electrodes is configured to provide electrical connection for charging the user wearable apparatus or for data transmission from/to the user wearable apparatus. 
     
     
       4. The electrode system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second, or third light-passing element comprises at least one of a light guide or a light fiber. 
     
     
       5. The electrode system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second, or third light-passing element comprises a lens. 
     
     
       6. The electrode system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to act as electrodes of a physiological condition sensor of the user wearable apparatus. 
     
     
       7. The electrode system according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a multitude of holes and each of the holes has a diameter of 0.1 mm. 
     
     
       8. The electrode system according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a multitude of holes and each of the holes has a diameter between 0.05 mm and 1.0 mm. 
     
     
       9. The electrode system according to  claim 1 , wherein a measurable temperature of the surface of the skin of the body part of the user is measured using pulsed light from the second light source and detecting with the second light detector a length of time to detect the reflected light from the reflecting surface in the end of the third light-passing element. 
     
     
       10. The electrode system according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflecting surface in the end of the third light-passing element is a metal coating of at least one of gold (Au) or platinum (Pt). 
     
     
       11. A user wearable apparatus comprising the electrode system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       12. A method comprising:
 providing an electrode system for a user wearable apparatus, the electrode system comprising at least two electrodes, wherein the at least two electrodes comprise a first electrode and a second electrode that are electrically isolated from one another on a same side of the user wearable apparatus, and include in each of the first and second electrodes a conductive part comprising conductive material, wherein the conductive part is configured to provide electrical connection to electronic components of the user wearable device and is configured to provide electrical connection from a surface of the conductive part to a surface of skin of a body part of a user of the user wearable apparatus; 
 providing an opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode configured to provide an optical connection to the surface of the skin of the body part of the user; 
 providing at least two optically separated light-passing elements in the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, wherein the at least two light-passing elements comprise a first light-passing element and a second light-passing element; 
 wherein the first light-passing element is connected to a first light source of an first optical sensor and is configured to pass light from the light source, through the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, to the surface of the skin of the body part of the user, and to reflect the light as reflected light off the surface of the skin; 
 wherein the second light-passing element is connected to a first light detector of the first optical sensor and is configured to pass the reflected light from the surface of the skin of the body part of the user, through the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, to the light detector; 
 a third light-passing element optically separated from the first and second light-passing elements in the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, the third light-passing element including a reflecting surface in the end thereof; 
 wherein the third light-passing element is connected to a second light source of a second optical sensor and is configured to pass light from the second light source, through the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, to the reflecting surface in the end thereof, and to reflect the light as reflected light off the reflecting surface; and 
 wherein the third light-passing element is connected to a second light detector of the second optical sensor and is configured to pass the reflected light from the reflecting surface in the end thereof, through the opening in the conductive part of at least the first electrode, to the second light detector. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein providing at least one of the first, second or third light-passing elements located in the first electrode is performed by casting optical material into the first electrode. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein a measurable temperature of the surface of the skin of the body part of the user is measured using pulsed light from the second light source and detecting with the second light detector a length of time to detect the reflected light from the reflecting surface in the end of the third light-passing element. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the reflecting surface in the end of the third light-passing element is a metal coating of at least one of gold (Au) or platinum (Pt).